The innocent holiday souvenirs that could land Brits in trouble at customs
After reports that footballer Erling Haaland allegedly brought a taxidermy raccoon home from the FIFA World Cup, many Britons remain unclear about what they can and cannot bring through customs as searches for “what can I bring through customs” spiked by 169% in the last quarter alone.1
With an estimated 30 million Brits heading abroad this summer, holidaymakers may need to think twice about bringing home any souvenirs, as seemingly harmless items may land you in trouble with customs, leading to confiscation or a hefty fine.
Alicia Hempsted, Travel Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket says many holidaymakers attempt to bring home common items without realising they may be restricted or prohibited, including shells, food items, and certain types of medicine.
Alicia comments: “It’s easy to assume that souvenirs bought abroad are okay to bring back home; however, that’s not always the case. Customs rules vary by country, so always check the rules in your destination before trying to bring anything home. Spending a few minutes checking the official guidance could help you avoid confiscations or fines at the airport.
“While travel insurance can provide valuable protection in unforeseen circumstances, holidaymakers shouldn’t assume it will reimburse them if customs officials confiscate a prohibited item.”
Alicia has shared what items you should be careful of when travelling this summer:
What should you be careful about bringing through UK customs
Taxidermy and animal products
Alicia comments: “Travellers should be particularly cautious when bringing animal products into the UK.
“Bringing home certain species and animal products may require special documentation or be restricted altogether. The UK has strict rules governing products derived from species including tigers, rhinos and bears under international wildlife protection regulations, and this extends to products made from their skin, bones, or horns.3”
Food products
“Food is one of the most common categories that catches people out. Regulations against meat and dairy products are designed to prevent pests and diseases entering a country. These rules are designed to prevent pests and diseases crossing borders.4
“While animal products are restricted, foods like bread, cakes without fresh cream, biscuits, chocolate and confectionery, pasta and noodles, packaged soup, stocks and flavourings tend to be accepted.
“Regulations can change depending on where you’re travelling from, so don’t assume that something you were allowed to bring on your outbound journey will necessarily be permitted when you’re returning home.”
What could land you in trouble at customs overseas
Coral and seashells
Alicia explains: “While they can make for pretty souvenirs, some shells, such as sea turtle shells, and large seashells like queen conch, are protected by international conservation regulations, meaning you may need specific permits to transport them across borders.
“Popular holiday destinations like Thailand, the Maldives, and Mexico have strict export laws covering shells and coral, which can result in large fines of 40,000 to 1,000,000 baht (roughly £800 to £20,000),5 even if purchased from a gift shop.
“What’s more, travel insurance won’t cover you for fines imposed at customs as policies exclude losses resulting from breaking Government regulations and place the responsibility on the traveller.
Medication
“Some countries, such as the UAE,6 have particularly strict rules governing which medicines can be brought into the country. Medication that is available over the counter or by prescription in the UK may not be permitted in other countries, so always check before you fly.
“This also applies to GLP-1 medication and there is strict advice for those travelling to and from the UAE with weight loss medication, including keeping the medication in your hand luggage and in the original packaging. Always carry a doctor’s prescription note or supporting medical documentation.
“If you require specific medication when travelling, make sure you have a doctor’s note and the medication is kept in its original packaging.”
Alicia concludes: “Travel insurance will not typically cover banned or prohibited items, but you could also find yourself responsible for any associated fines or costs, depending on the circumstances and the local laws.
“The golden rule for travelling is simple – if you’re unsure, check before you travel. Customs rules aren’t always intuitive, and taking a few minutes to double-check can prevent you from running into problems at the airport.”
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The innocent holiday souvenirs that could land Brits in trouble at customs
The innocent holiday souvenirs that could land Brits in trouble at customs
After reports that footballer Erling Haaland allegedly brought a taxidermy raccoon home from the FIFA World Cup, many Britons remain unclear about what they can and cannot bring through customs as searches for “what can I bring through customs” spiked by 169% in the last quarter alone.1
With an estimated 30 million Brits heading abroad this summer, holidaymakers may need to think twice about bringing home any souvenirs, as seemingly harmless items may land you in trouble with customs, leading to confiscation or a hefty fine.
Alicia Hempsted, Travel Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket says many holidaymakers attempt to bring home common items without realising they may be restricted or prohibited, including shells, food items, and certain types of medicine.
Alicia comments: “It’s easy to assume that souvenirs bought abroad are okay to bring back home; however, that’s not always the case. Customs rules vary by country, so always check the rules in your destination before trying to bring anything home. Spending a few minutes checking the official guidance could help you avoid confiscations or fines at the airport.
“While travel insurance can provide valuable protection in unforeseen circumstances, holidaymakers shouldn’t assume it will reimburse them if customs officials confiscate a prohibited item.”
Alicia has shared what items you should be careful of when travelling this summer:
What should you be careful about bringing through UK customs
Taxidermy and animal products
Alicia comments: “Travellers should be particularly cautious when bringing animal products into the UK.
“Bringing home certain species and animal products may require special documentation or be restricted altogether. The UK has strict rules governing products derived from species including tigers, rhinos and bears under international wildlife protection regulations, and this extends to products made from their skin, bones, or horns.3”
Food products
“Food is one of the most common categories that catches people out. Regulations against meat and dairy products are designed to prevent pests and diseases entering a country. These rules are designed to prevent pests and diseases crossing borders.4
“While animal products are restricted, foods like bread, cakes without fresh cream, biscuits, chocolate and confectionery, pasta and noodles, packaged soup, stocks and flavourings tend to be accepted.
“Regulations can change depending on where you’re travelling from, so don’t assume that something you were allowed to bring on your outbound journey will necessarily be permitted when you’re returning home.”
What could land you in trouble at customs overseas
Coral and seashells
Alicia explains: “While they can make for pretty souvenirs, some shells, such as sea turtle shells, and large seashells like queen conch, are protected by international conservation regulations, meaning you may need specific permits to transport them across borders.
“Popular holiday destinations like Thailand, the Maldives, and Mexico have strict export laws covering shells and coral, which can result in large fines of 40,000 to 1,000,000 baht (roughly £800 to £20,000),5 even if purchased from a gift shop.
“What’s more, travel insurance won’t cover you for fines imposed at customs as policies exclude losses resulting from breaking Government regulations and place the responsibility on the traveller.
Medication
“Some countries, such as the UAE,6 have particularly strict rules governing which medicines can be brought into the country. Medication that is available over the counter or by prescription in the UK may not be permitted in other countries, so always check before you fly.
“This also applies to GLP-1 medication and there is strict advice for those travelling to and from the UAE with weight loss medication, including keeping the medication in your hand luggage and in the original packaging. Always carry a doctor’s prescription note or supporting medical documentation.
“If you require specific medication when travelling, make sure you have a doctor’s note and the medication is kept in its original packaging.”
Alicia concludes: “Travel insurance will not typically cover banned or prohibited items, but you could also find yourself responsible for any associated fines or costs, depending on the circumstances and the local laws.
“The golden rule for travelling is simple – if you’re unsure, check before you travel. Customs rules aren’t always intuitive, and taking a few minutes to double-check can prevent you from running into problems at the airport.”
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